Blandford and Chester boards launch shared fire department planning with $5,000 grant

BLANDFORD -- February 28, 2024, Blandford and Chester Select Boards move toward shared fire department at joint February meeting. The boards agreed to form a joint planning committee, two volunteer firefighters from each town, both fire chiefs, and a Select Board member from each, targeting a first meeting in late March, backed by a $5,000 Pioneer Valley Planning Commission grant. Fire Chief Henry told the boards he regularly works 40 to 50 hours per week and that the two departments together average four to six missed emergency calls per month due to staffing shortages. Chief Monter, joining via Zoom, said administrative work now comprises 95 percent of a chief's duties, citing pending OSHA changes as likely to deepen that burden. The boards also voted unanimously to change their joint meeting schedule from quarterly to semi-annual and to appoint Joanne Martin as treasurer-clerk, while tabling action on a $178,123 ANR water operator grant pending review by the state Department of Local Services.